“The value of consistent prayer is not that He will hear us, but that we will hear Him.”
– William McGill
Thoughts?
Todd
13 thoughts on “Thoughts On A Quote”
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Prayer is two-way communication. Besides us talking to our Father God, we also are to be listening to him talk to us and what he has to say.
Yep, that’s pretty much it. We can pray all the prayers where we would make the Lord into a vending machine that we want, but what we really need to do is get our attitudes in line with His will. Eventually if we keep praying, we’ll come around. Be with Him and He will be with you.
That’s not to say we shouldn’t pray for a specific way. Who knows, God may hear it and show His favor on us. But what I find myself praying for most is for a sign that He shows me His will. And when I get that sign, I have to act accordingly – and I don’t always do that. I resist, as we all do. But eventually I have to come back – I have to stop fighting it, because I have to get in line with what God wants.
God knows our needs before we even ask, i think most miss the point of prayer and the conversation. The talking between our father and us. I had a bad habit of just thanking, asking, and then getting up. Never giving God the opportunity to speak to me. What a difference when we see our place as not just hoping for “things” but seeking advice and love from my Father.
Todd,
Hope all is well. I am going to discuss the delusion of free will as the majority of your commentors believe they freely choose to pray and listen to God. This is not true. I believe that through scripture is the only way to discuss things. If all we do is discuss our opinions, then we are just using man’s word and not the living God’s word.
Delusion #1: Free Will
I understand why people believe in “free will” as we, as human beings, do make choices all the time. However, the choices we make are not “free” choices. God controls man through man’s spirit. A good example of this in the Bible is when God continually hardens Pharaoh’s heart (spirit). God controls Pharaoh so that Pharaoh will act according to God’s purpose and God’s timing. Scripture continually states that God hardens Pharaoh’s heart so that Pharaoh would not let Moses’ people go until the time at which God had appointed for Pharaoh to let Moses’ people go. God once again hardened Pharaoh’s heart so that Pharaoh would chase after Moses’ people. God clearly controls Pharaoh, and Pharaoh is not acting out of his free will to choose. Yes, Pharaoh does choose not to let Moses’ people go, but this is only after God had hardened Pharaoh’s heart. Yes, Pharaoh does choose to chase after Moses’ people, but only after God had hardened Pharaoh’s heart. In another instance, God CAUSES men to kill one another. The Bible clearly states that man does not have free will. Man is always acting according to God’s will.
Exodus 11: 10
10and the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, so that he would not let the children of Israel go out of his land
Exodus 14: 4
4And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, that he shall follow after them.
Judges 7:22
When three hundred trumpets sounded, the Lord CAUSED the men throughout the camp to turn on each other with their swords.
John 15:16
YOU DID NOT CHOOSE ME, BUT I CHOSE YOU and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last.
The beauty in seeing God this way is that everyone is made and acts perfectly according to God’s purpose. It is not your free choice to be homosexual or heterosexual. It is not your free choice to be an atheist or a believer in God. It is not your free choice to pray or not to pray. You do not have a choice to get your life in line with God’s will; for God’s will is always done. So, we should not judge one other on right or wrong; one should judge matters for oneself on what is right or wrong, as the scripture states.
Luke 12:57 (New International Version)
57 “Why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right?”
There are hundreds of other verses I can use to back up this truth. I have recently finished a book discussing other delusions of present-day Christianity. My book will bring peace and hope to the ones that really need it. I am getting self-published as we speak, and hope to really make a difference as soon as someone with your following backs me. We could really get the truth out there and make our world a better place. Once again, I hope the living God blesses you and yours!
I think the value of consistent prayer is to deepen relationship which means two-way conversation–speaking and listening, presenting ourselves before God just as we are and enjoying God’s presence with us. It’s the picture of human relationships made perfect on a divine level. It takes more time and effort to listen to God, and I don’t always want to hear what He has to say. But when a person can get to the place where they come out of hiding to have an honest, meaningful dialog with God, and desire what He has to say even if it’s not what they want to hear . . . that’s sweet communion. I’ve enjoyed that a few times, but more often I don’t take as much time to listen as I do to speak. Perhaps that’s why God uses other methods to get my attention at times, like right after waking up before my mind and body is engaged in activity.
Because I believe strongly in the power of petitionary prayer, I believe God hears our prayers. I also believe our prayers are weapons in the on-going spiritual warfare between good and evil. So while I agree that there is enormous value in hearing God when we pray, I disagree that we can dismiss the value of God hearing us.
peace
I believe that God is soverign. I believe that he is All-Powerful, that he is omni-present; that he is the Creator God. He is also unchangeable. If he is unchangeable, then I believe that our prayers do not move God to act on our behalf, I believe that our prayers keep up our end of the fellowship with God and move us where he wants us.
I pray not only to ask something but it’s my way of talking to Him. I know when He is trying to tell me something and I see to it that I listen.
Man God is good isn’t He!! I JUST posted an entry on my blog about prayer and how over the last week or so my relationship with God has changed because I have been in constant intense prayer with Him all day everyday. Take a read if you’d like, I’m always happy to share my blog. I just think its neat how what you NEED to hear or whatever you’re in the midst of He puts up little things that let you know He hears you and He’s taking part in this relationship, that it’s not just a one way street. Prayer is an amazing thing!!
“Prayer is simply relaxing and delighting in Jesus with no agenda except celebrating the deep affection between you.” –Brennan Manning (I love this description!)
Yes and amen!
Life’s bumper sticker is usually “Life sucks.” But if your a Christian it’s “Life sucks until you die.”
– Ted Dekker
I view prayer the same as communication between husband and wife. Good flow of communication allows you to share dreams, vision, plans, love, etc. Lack of communication creates lack of trust and understanding. When we pray, God’s love, word, vision, promises, etc. become revealed. When we don’t pray, we find ourselves not trusting God and the ability to not know where God is.